Chick box construction



Nov. 1, 1938.

L. MAGERS CHICK BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l 00 Hfi/MIPQH fl h H.I.V0%\ oo oo doo 00 00 M00 moo M00 00 00 00 0o 00 0o00 0o 00. 00 00 00 00. wo oon no do 00 Q0 00 0o 00 00 00 00 00 0.0 00 0000 00 00 00 m.00z m 00. 00 oo 00 0 0 00 INVENTOR. Lurfim HHGERS.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 1, 1938. 1.. MAGERS CHICK BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 14, 1936 31Sheets-Sheet 3 o o o o o o 0 O O O/ G O O O INVENTOR.

11/7/96)? flier/es,

xiamx r2116 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1,1938

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE CHICK BOX CONSTRUCTION Luther Magers,Marion, Ind., assignor to Ina. corporation Application October 14,

16 Claims.

.This invention relates to a stickless container suitable for theshipment of chicks and live animals, commonly called in the containerindustry, a chick box. The chief object of the present invention is toprovide a chick box which is formed from a minimum number of parts, onepreferred form being formed from a single blank and another preferredform being formed from a similar blank and a partition member.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a chick box or the likewhich is capable of interlocking, and consequently detachableassociation with another chick box to form a plural compartment box, orto form a chick box similarly 16 associated with three other boxes toform aquadruple compartment box, the capacity-being double or quadruple,respectively, that of the individual box.

One chief feature of the invention consists in 20 the formation of apair of opposite walls of a height different from other walls and havingwall locking extension portions, a portion of which is of'the samemaximum height, for supporting in superposed and spaced relation asimilar con- 25 tainer for ventilating the interior of the containerthrough the apertured top thereof.

Another chief feature of the invention consists in the formation of thepartition as an integral portion of the cover and the extension of theso cover laterally so as to constitute a side spacing arrangement toinsure side wall ventilation between adjacent tiers or piles of boxes.

Another and complementary feature of the invention is that the containeror chick box re- 35 ,quires no extraneous locking means, such asstaples,tape or the. like, to secure the same in box formatiom,

d Other objects and features of the invention will be understood fromthe accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventiondesignated as the IOO-chick size. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of aplurality of said boxes in superposed tier or stacked relation. Fig. 3is a transverse sectional view of the box shown in Fig. 1 and is takenapproximately in the plane 3-3 and in the direction of the arrows inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another form of the invention andof 50-chick ca- Y pacity. Fig. 5 is'a perspective view of another formof the invention and of a 25-chick capacity. Fig. 6 is a developed planview of the blank from which the box shown in Fig. 1 is made, theadditional partition member being omitted. Fig. 7 55 is a top plan viewof a pair of boxes, such as diana Fibre Products Corporation, Marion,Ind.,

1936, Serial No. 105,482 (Cl. 229-6) shown in Fig. 4, detachablyconnected together. Fig. 8 is a similar view of four boxes, such asshown in Fig. 5, detachably associated together. Fig. 9 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and in the direction ofthe ar- 5 rows. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a further modified formof the invention. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on line"-4 l of Fig. 10 and in the direction of the arrows.

Reference will first be had to Figs. 1, 3 and-6. 10 In said figures, illindicates a bottom portion, II the side walls, H the end walls and I3the half covers integral with the side walls. The end Walls haveprojecting laterally thereof extension flaps l4,

It will be observed that one pair of the opposite walls is of greaterheight than the .other and that the walls of lesser height are those towhich the cover portions are united. In the 1 present form of theinventionthere is provided 0 a partition 15 integral with one coverportion and reference will be had thereto hereinafter, although in thesmallest size box and, if desired, in the intermediate size box, thispartition may be omitted.

All sizes of boxes have. with the exception of the partition, theforegoing common relationship and the following relationship now to bespecifically set forth. Each end flap i4 extends transversely of itssupporting wall l2 and its upper edge, as at I6, is. a continuationofthe upper edge I! of the wall. Thus, a rightangle bearing portion ofequal height is provided. The upper edge I! of the wall I: is releivedor notched as at l8 and the bottom of the same is substantiallycoincident with the top of the other walls. Each cover portionimmediately adjacent its connection to the last-mentioned pair ofopposite walls is notched as at I9 and is slotted as at 20. Theextension l4 includes a projecting portion 2| 40 .but the latter is oflesser height than the portion having the top edge It. I Between the twospaced portions indicated by the numerals l6 and 2|, is an edge 22 andthe same lies substantially in the plane of the bottom of the notches l8. Each cover portion includes a, lateral projection 23, notched as at24. The blank thus formed with suitable scored connections between therespective parts is set up by positioning the two side walls parallel toeach other and at right angles to the bottom and the two end'wallsparallel to each other and at right angles .to the bottom. The four endflaps I4 are turned inwardly and 'lie within the two side walls andimmediately adjacent the same and at right angles 66 to the supportingwalls or ends l2. The cover portions are then turned toward each otherand downwardly and the portions iii of the end flaps nest in the notchesl9 and project above the plane of the cover when closed. The projection2| on the end flap extension [4 projects through the slot 20 and thusthe end flap is locked to the side wall at the junction thereof with thecover to secure the side and end walls in rectangular relation and thusform a box structure.

The cover, when closed, has portion 23 hearing on the bottom edge of thenotch I8 in the end wall and projects beyond the end wall. The notch 24I811 of the end wall at the notched portion i8 thereof. Thus, the coverportions are frictionally locked to the end walls.

The foregoing, together with the openings 25 in the side walls, theopenings 26 in the end walls and the openings 21 in the covers, form aventilated structure suitable for the shipment of chicks and/ or thelike.

- As is common in the chick box industry, these openings or aperturesmay be completely provided or may be partially die cut so that thehatcheryman, for example, can complete the openings by finger punching,it being quite evident that during the winter months a smaller number ofopenings will be required than during the summer months, due to thenecessity of conserving body heat of the chicks.

Whenever the, individual chick multiple compartment character, there maybe provided the partition l5, before mentioned, having the ventilatingopenings or apertures 28, and, for locating and retention purposes, theprojectbox is to be of ing tongues 29. The walls adjacent the side edgesof the partition are slotted as at 30 and said tongues extend into, and,if desired, may project beyond the exterior of the slot. The-height ofthis partition may be equal to the height of the side wall I I so that,if a smaller container is supported on the cover and within the confinesoi the spacing portions of the box, the cover will be reinforced to thatextent. The width of the partition is the same as the correspondingdimension of the bottom so that the sides of the partition mayfrictionally engage the interior of the end walls.

It will also be understood that the side edges l3a of the coverfrictionally engage the interior of the end walls l2 although such closepositioning or contact is not necessary. The projecting portions 23serve as finger pieces for the opening of thecover. In other words, thefirst and second fingers of each hand engage the opposite projectingportions 23 and the thumb is placed on the corner between the edges l1and I81; and

the cover elevated. It will also be understood that the lockingprojection 2| preferably has a scored connection with the end flap so asto permit the ready tilting of the cover. Reference will now be had toFigs. 3 and 6. In Fig.3, there is illustrated another partition 3|provided with openings 32 for ventilation. This partition memberincludes laterally projecting portions 33 receivable by slots 34 in theside walls. The two partition portions have an interlockingslottedconnection indicated as at 35. In other words, the slot 35 ineach partition is about half the depth of the same, one being from thetop and the other one from the bottom, and the entrance to said slotsmay be relieved, as indicated at 36.

Fig. 2 illustrates a tier or stack of chick boxes and shows thehorizontal passages A between adjacent boxes. Between portions 2|, orbetween in said projection embraces the edgev portions I6 and betweenthe plane of the cover, when closed, and the plane of the top edges I1,is a passage so that air may pass across the top of the cover and,thence downwardly through the openings in the cover. Similarly, thenotch 18 in the end wall provides a wall passage for a similar purpose.

Only in one of the preferred forms of the invention is the partitionintegral with the cover. Pref erably the independent partition orpartitions if two be utilized, are of a height equal to the height ofthe side walls H so that they will support the cover if a central loadbe applied' to the cover and contact only the central portion.

In Fig. 4, numerals of the 100 series indicate like parts and in thisfigure there is illustrated an intermediate size box wherein noindependent partition is utilized but an integral partition is utilized.One wall of this box includes a pair of tongues and complementary slots.The tongue is indicated by the numeral 140 and the tant from the ends ofthe wall including the same. When another box of similar character isinterlockingly associated therewith, as illustrated in Fig. '1, there isformed afour-compartment box structure suitably ventilated and having a.capac-' ity equal to the box or container shown in Fig. 1.

In the preferred form of the invention, the side wall of the box shownin Fig. 4 is of substantially the same height as the side wall of thebox shown in Fig. 1, but of. a length substantially that of the end wallof the latter b The end wall of the box shown in Fig. 4 is of a heightsubstantially that of the end wall shown in the box shown in Fig. 1, buthas a width approximately half of that of the box shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. there is illustrated the minimum capacity box and numerals ofthe 200 series indicate similar parts. This container does not includeany partition arrangement. Each wall is provided with a complementarytongue and slot connection 240 and 2, it being understood that thetongue and slot connections in opposite walls are reversed. Four ofthese minimum capacity boxes, when desired, may be interlockingly.associated together as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 forming a fourcompartmentbox structure of a capacity equal to the maximum box illustrated in Fig.1, when the side wall of the box shown inFig. 5 has a I height equal tothe height of the side wall of the box shown in Fig. 1 and a lengthequal to onehalf the length of the side wall or equal to the enslot byMl. These are reversed but are spaced equi-distire width of the end wallof the box shown in I Fig. 4 and the end wall of the box shownin Fig. 5has a height equal to the height of the end wall of the box shown inFigs. 1 and 4 and a width equal to half the width of the side wall ofthe box shown in Fig. 4 and one-half the width of the end wall of thebox shown in Fig. 1.

The detailed description of the lengths, heights and widths of thevarious walls and partition members of the-several boxes is given merelyby way of example and is a purely arbitrary selection, it being clearlyunderstood, of course, that any one of the three boxes or anymodification thereof as hereinbefore pointed out, may be of the samesize or of any different size.

Supplementing the foregoing by way of explanation, boxes of the hereindisclosed character are not solely used by hatcherymen, but are used bypet stores and the like, so that when a purchaser of small ducks,goslings, chicks and/or rabbits makes a purchase, each of the indicated.

purchases may be individually boxed and then the boxes detachablyassociated together to form a unitary box structure arrangement, whichfacilitates handling. It will also be noted that when two of the50-chick size boxes are associated In Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings isillustrated a further form of the invention and numerals. of

the three hundred series indicate like or similar parts. In this form ofthe invention each cover 313 terminates at 3l3 and a partion 3|5independent of the covers projects upwardly between the adjacent edgesthereof, said cover having a slotted interlocking connection 3l5 with,the' transverse partition 33L Each cover is slotted at 3 l3, the slotsbeing in alignment, and through the same project the tongues33l uponpartition 3|3. Each partition is anchored at opposite ends to theopposite walls by tongue extensions, as partition 35 by tongues 333 inslot 334 in walls 3 and partition M5 by tongues 329 in slots 330in'walls 3l2. Partition 315 has an upper edge no higher than the levelof the top of portions 3| I and 316. Projections 33!- may have a similarelevation, although as shown herein, the top edges thereof areapproximately in the plane of the top edges of projections 32L Partition3l5 serves as a central spacing support for superposed containers..

While the invention has been set forth in great detail in the foregoingspecification, it is to be understood that the same is illustrative andnot restrictive in character and the various modifications hereindisclosed, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves topersons skilled in the art are all within the broad scope of thisinvention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A container suitable for chick box purposes including a bottom,opposite side walls, opposite end walls, one pair of opposite wallshaving angular extensions parallel to the other pair of walls andbetween the same and contiguous thereto, a

' pair of cover portions integral with the contiguous walls and notchedat each connecting corner and intermediate the same, the opposite wallshaving the extensions being of a height greater than the other pair ofwalls, each extension having a portion immediately adjacent itsconnection with its supporting wall and a portion spaced from thelast-mentioned portion, said extension portions projecting upwardlythrough the registering notches, the last-mentioned portion constitutingan extension lock and the first-mentioned portion with its supportingwall constituting a spacing support for a superposed container, theextension supporting wall being notched in its upper edge intermedatethe ends, and laterally projecting extensions on the cover portions forwall engagement, said cover projections being notched for interlockingconnection with the adjacent wall.

2. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the extensionspaced portion terminating below the level of the other extensionportion.

3. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition of apartition forming exthat of the cover portion for nesting between theopposite walls upon which,the supporting cover portion has bearing.

4. A container as defined by claim 1, charactension on one cover and ofa length less than terized by the addition of a partition formingextension on one cover and of a length lessthan that of the coverportion for nesting between the opposite walls upon which the supportingcover portion has bearing, the wall upon which the cover has bearinghaving a .slot therein, and an extension upon the partition seatable insaid slot for yieldingly locking the partition in predetermined positionand retaining the supporting cover in closed'position. it

5. A container as definedby claim 1, characterized by the addition of apartition forming extension on one cover and of a length lessthan thatof the cover portion for nesting between the opposite walls upon whichthe supporting cover portion has bearing, the extension spaced portionterminating below the level of the other extension portion. g I

6. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition of apartition forming ex-f tension on one cover and of a length less thanthat of the cover portion for nesting between the opposite walls uponwhich the supporting cover portion has bearing, the wall upon which thecover has bearing having a slot therein, and an extension upon thepartition seatable in said slot for yieldingly locking the partition inpredetermined position and retaining the supporting cover in closedposition, the extension spaced portion terminating below the level ofthe other extension portion.

7. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition of apartition formingextension on one cover and of a length less than thatof the cover portion for nesting between the opposite walls upon whichthe supporting cover portion has bearing, and another partitionextending transverse to the first-mentioned partition and from wall towall, said partition including longitudinally aligned extensions, thelast-mentioned walls including slots for secondmentioned partitionextension reception, the two partitions having an interlocking,semi-slotted .tion and from wall to wall, said partition includinglongitudinally aligned extensions, the lastmentioned walls includingslots for second-mentioned partition extension reception, the twopartitions having an interlocking, semi-slotted connection, thesecond-mentioned partition bearing upon the bottom and having a heightsuch that the top thereof is engaged by the cover when closed.

9. A container as defined by claim l, characterized by the addition of apartition forming extension on one cover and of a length less than thatof the cover portion for nesting between the opposite walls upon whichthe supporting cover portion has bearing, and another partitionextending transverse to the first-mentioned partition and from wall towall, said partition including longitudinally aligned extensions, thelastmentioned walls including slots for second-mentioned partitionextension reception, the two partitions having an interlocking,semi-slotted connection, the second-mentioned partition bearing upon thebottom closed, the partition forming cover extension having a heightsuch that the free edge thereof engages the bottom.

10. A container as defined by claim 1, charac- I terized by the additionof a partition forming extension on one cover and of a length less thanthat of the cover portion for nesting between the opposite walls uponwhich the supporting cover portion has bearing, the partition formingcover extension being of a height such that the free edge thereofengages the bottom when the cover .is closed and bearing on the adjacentwall.

11. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition ofa partition secured at opposite ends to adjacent walls and'projectingupwardly between the covers and to a height not greater than the heightof the opposite wall extensions.

12. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition ofa partition secured at opposite ends to adjacent walls, and havingspaced upwardly projecting portions, each cover being slotted forpartition projecting portion reception'.

13. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition ofa partition secured at opposite ends to adjacent walls, and having andhaving a height such that the top thereof is engaged by the cover when 1opposite ends to' adjacent wardly betweenthe covers and to a height notgreater than the opposite walls.

14. A container as defined by claim 1*, characterized by the addition ofa partition secured at opposite ends to adjacent walls and projectingupwardly between the covers and to a height substantially equal to theheight of the opposite wall extensions.

15. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition ofa partition secured at spaced upwardly projecting portions, each coverbeing slotted for partition projecting portion-reception, and of aheight less than that 01 the height of the opposite wall extensions.

16. A container as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition ofa partition-secured at opposite ends to adjacent walls, and havingspaced upwardly projecting portions, each cover being slotted forpartition projecting portion reception, and of a height less than thatof the height of the opposite wall extension, and another partitionsecured at opposite ends to adjacent walls and projecting upwardlybetween the covers and to a height not greater than the opposite walls.

LUTHER MAGERS.

walls, and having

